Originally Posted by
TurboFan
I agree with you on the stick and rudder aspect. My point however, is that there is more involved in flying a jet than stick and rudder skills. Systems knowledge, FMS/FMC knowledge and aircraft specific knowledge all come into play. Is someone that may lack in the stick and rudder department but has beyond average systems and FMC knowledge a worse pilot than the opposite?
No, I would much rather coach a stick and rudder pilot how to push buttons than to coach button pusher's stick and rudder skills.
Situational awareness, is what separates the good pilots from the bad pilots more than any other trait.
Situational awareness is something that comes with experience.
Patience TurboFan. You'll get to be a CFI occasionally when you make captain... unfortunately, the occasional weak "student" will be learning with 70 people in the back, and it'll be your first real experience making decisions as PIC too.